General Motors will not make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for its American workers, the automaker confirmed last week.
A GM spokesperson told Automotive News last week that its workers will not be required to take the COVID-19 vaccine, though the automaker is working on ways to give employees access to the vaccine once it becomes available.
Rory Gamble
UAW president Rory Gamble said that he will encourage union members to get the vaccine, but believes mandating it is going a step too far.
“UAW members are American,” he said in an interview. “In America, you get people with different religious beliefs, you have people who are just of the opinion that they don’t take any vaccines at all. We think that should be respected. We’re very willing to sit down and work out with the companies going forward how we manage those issues.”
Gamble also told AN that he believes autoworkers are a critical part of the American economy, which should entitle them to early access to the vaccine.
“It’s been proven the automotive industry is very essential to the economy of this country,” he said. “Our members are on the front lines, working in environments that are really scary as it relates to how the virus spreads. I totally agree health care workers should get it first, but as this thing comes on line in waves, we need to consider labor in this country that goes to work every day and fights in fear of this virus to keep this country moving.”
GM has not had any major outbreaks of COVID-19 at its American assembly plants, though some workers have still tested positive for the virus. The automaker has safety guidelines in place at its manufacturing facilities to keep workers safe, which include taking employees’ temperatures when they arrive at work, mandatory PPE while in the building and social distancing measures. The automaker also sent employees 40-page playbook outlining best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 earlier this year.
GM said earlier this month that it is currently working on a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for those workers who wish to receive the shot. More details on the distribution plan are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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Comments
Getting the vaccine would simply be the logical thing to do.
But when was the last time we saw common sense win over bureaucratic bullsh**.
I think that people should get the vaccine BUT I also believe in freedom and choice. I don’t believe that anybody has the right to force there idea of medical care on me.
don’t mandate it. just tell people they can’t have it and you’ll see droves lining up to get it.
Don’t make them take the vaccine, but if they don’t they can wear a mask every second they are at work until the day they retire. It’s their choice.
then they just lie about having the vaccine, why should everyone else have to pay the price for them not wanting the shot, and another question? do “you” and your children get all your baby vaccines?
We react differently to medication and some people like myself I have never taken flu vaccine and I don’t take flu medication for years now,.however I just take my ginger, garlic and onion juice,y flu is gone in a day. So I don’t think people should be forced, because they will die from mental resistance of the vaccine, as each time they suffer from some sort of ailment, they will link it to the forced vaccine.
GM doesn’t follow their own standards. They overlap shifts instead of clearing the plant between shifts, then stop the line for 6 minutes between shifts. 6 minutes for one worker to put his gloves, tools etc away, then collect his personal items and get his coat in and leave. The next worker than has to clean the area, hang up his coat, bag etc, get his gloves on and be ready on the line. 6 minutes for all that! How much disinfecting really gets done?